Romancing the wild [electronic resource] : cultural dimensions of ecotourism / Robert Fletcher.

Romancing the wild [electronic resource] : cultural dimensions of ecotourism / Robert Fletcher.

9780822376897 electronic book
9780822355830 hardcover
9780822356004 paperback

Durham, North Carolina : Duke University Press, 2014.

English

1 online resource (259 pages) : illustrations.

G156.5.E26 F54 2014eb

338.4/791

"The worldwide development of ecotourism--including adventures such as mountain climbing and whitewater rafting, as well as more pedestrian pursuits such as birdwatching--has been extensively studied, but until now little attention has been paid to why vacationers choose to take part in what are often physically and emotionally strenuous endeavors. Drawing on ethnographic research and his own experiences working as an ecotour guide throughout the United States and Latin America, Robert Fletcher argues that participation in rigorous outdoor activities resonates with the particular cultural values of the white, upper-middle-class Westerners who are the majority of ecotourists. Navigating 13,000-foot mountain peaks or treacherous river rapids demands deferral of gratification, perseverance through suffering, and a willingness to assume risks in pursuit of continuous progress. In this way, characteristics originally cultivated for professional success have been transferred to the leisure realm at a moment when traditional avenues for achievement in the public sphere seem largely exhausted. At the same time, ecotourism provides a temporary escape from the ostensible ills of modern society by offering a transcendent 'wilderness' experience that contrasts with the indoor, sedentary, mental labor characteristically performed by white-collar workers."--Publisher description.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Access limited to authorized users.

Description based on print version record.

New ecologies for the twenty-first century.

Online Resources > Ebooks
All Resources